Darkstone Code

Chapter 1332: Chapter 1331: You’re Afraid

"On the capitalist side..."

"Their tax rates will be increased as well!"

Someone seemed to want to use capitalists to suppress Mr. Truman’s "sharpness," but to their surprise, he wasn’t afraid at all and imposed the same demands on them as ordinary taxpayers.

A few years ago when he was forced to bow under the pressure of capitalists, a fire ignited in Mr. Truman’s heart.

This fire had been simmering for so long that he could finally vent some of it.

He took a long breath; this was the feeling, somewhat intoxicating. A heart burned by the angry flames in his chest for countless days and nights finally gained a moment of tranquility.

He wished this moment could last forever, but he knew clearly that now was not the time.

Raising corporate tax rates for businesses, especially those with real big capitalists, consortiums, and conglomerates, actually doesn’t mean much.

Because they are capitalists.

The instinct of capitalists is to chase profits; they will find ways within reasonable and lawful boundaries to gain sufficient profit.

Now, hypothetically, if they could earn a million a year, then after the war breaks out, even if the tax rates are increased, they won’t earn less, they’ll earn much more!

Because war is all about production capacity!

At that time, society will be like a giant workshop, everyone working nonstop, desperately producing war weapons to send to the frontline to annihilate the enemy, or be destroyed by the enemy!

In the eyes of capitalists, all these represent orders, represent profits.

The Federation Government has just awarded Lynch’s Darkstone Airlines a 2 billion order, even if the interest rate is raised, he still earns, and he earns much more than during peacetime!

During peacetime, only if the Federation Government and Military were crazy would they order 2 billion worth of aircraft at once; maybe only 1 or 2 billion over three to five years!

See, the tax rate is clearly higher, yet he earns even more.

If anyone is truly unlucky... it may be those small and micro enterprises; they can’t reach big orders, can only take some leftovers.

Considering that the operation of society can’t be separated from these small and micro enterprises, the corporate tax rate adjustment is tiered.

The impact on small and micro enterprises is like being given a "pinch" when paying taxes compared to being "punched."

Not fatal, there is relatively ample profit space, they can still sustain...

The Federation Government is also trying to avoid the unemployment issue during wartime, based on humanitarian grounds.

Because during wartime, unemployment often represents those who are sent to the battlefield.

If they lose their jobs and don’t produce, the best way to handle them is to send them to the front!

A series of decrees, from beginning to end, were very complete, considered various levels—at least were considered, didn’t abandon any social strata.

But how to appropriately publicize these decrees relies on the power of the media.

Ninety-nine percent of ordinary people might be very interested in elections—mainly because parties and candidates giving out free fried chicken and beer during campaigns.

However, most people actually don’t pay much attention to policies; these people can’t possibly know what new policies or content appear every day.

Who would spend half a day at the notice board in City Hall Square for nothing?

So it requires the media to be this channel.

Mr. Truman even mentioned towards the end of the meeting that if someone wants to test the limits of Federation Government’s tolerance this time, they don’t mind letting people understand how special wartime law is!

And this is how the document in Lynch’s hand came about.

A program from a little-known company set to air after the hottest show on their TV network, and... without payment.

If the TV station buys actively, surely the TV station spends money, but those who bring completed programs directly requesting airtime definitely pay themselves, but they don’t need to.

Lynch thought about it, nodded in agreement.

He had a good relationship with Mr. Truman and the President, if he didn’t agree, not considering the emotional relationship between him and these two.

Just the external speculation about them is enough to give a headache, suspecting there may be some conspiracy here, or whatever.

When Lynch went downstairs at noon to buy a pack of cigarettes, someone actually conducted a public opinion survey on him.

A young girl, very open-minded, with skin so fair it was almost dazzling.

She had a brooch on her chest, a robin brooch, causing Lynch to think of something momentarily, then ignore it.

"Sir, would you like to participate in a simple questionnaire survey?", Lynch glanced at the girl’s work permit, one of the Federation’s top three consulting firms, named Loli.

The girl saw Lynch didn’t react for a moment and proactively added some "chips," "If you complete the questionnaire, this pen is yours, plus a small gift, a fried chicken roll from the fried chicken shop."

Industrialization has brought many changes to life, such as industrialized poultry farming.

This is an industry that has rapidly emerged in the past two years; people previously only had a vague concept of agricultural and pastoral industrialization, roughly that fewer people can manage large areas of land or numerous livestock.

Using science, machinery, etc., the actual mechanization process in real life and work isn’t high.

Compared to tens of thousands for one agricultural machine, hundreds of thousands for a set, most agricultural and pastoral industry workers are still using relatively cheap immigrant labor.

They are cheaper than locals, can endure hardship, won’t make a fuss about trivial demands, and even when treated unfriendly, they can endure.

After all, it’s all for a Federation dream.

But after the temperature changed drastically, this relatively concentrated farming industrialization process was driven, coupled with some new high-quality breed chickens, at least in terms of poultry, Federation people won’t be short again.

No matter if it’s chicken, chicken, or chicken, when it comes to supply, they’ve reached a consensus.

Cheap, anytime, anywhere.

Now a fried chicken costs only one dollar and ninety-nine cents, which has become the main feature of certain events.

While talking, a young man nearby was attracted by that fried chicken store voucher, hoping to participate in the survey, of course after Lynch.

Lynch wanted to tell this young man that the pen is probably worth two dollars and is more meaningful than fried chicken.

But he ultimately didn’t say anything because this is the lifestyle choice of the young man.

With Lynch’s permission, the girl began to fill out the questionnaire.

"Do you think a war will break out?"

"You can answer yes or no, if you have your own thoughts you can share them, but I won’t record them."

Very straightforward.

Most people participating in the survey tend to express a bunch of their own thoughts, unaware that what they’re saying won’t catch the eyes of those who should see it.

Lynch nodded, "It will."

"Do you think the Federation should be more proactive in participating in the war?"

Lynch nodded again, "Yes."

"Do you think..."

A whole host of questions surrounding the war.

Sometimes people might be curious why these three consulting companies are always the same three.

The business of consulting companies isn’t that complex, it’s about doing public opinion surveys, statistics, and analyses. Some fall under public resources, then why is it so hard to shake these three companies’ positions?

To put it plainly, they do have their means.

Take the questions Lynch answered, they all have clear inducement, or directionality.

Because multiple-choice questions have always been like this.

"What’s your opinion on a certain event" and "Do you stand with someone in a certain matter" seem similar and closely related questions, but one doesn’t have inducement and the other does.

When more inducive Q&A is connected, it not only imposes the "direction" they want on the public but also gets the results they want.

Yes, we conducted a survey, and these are the results.

Those standing against the outcome, like someone sitting in front of the television, aren’t going to seriously discuss this with everyone; they’ll just think themselves to be in the minority, or different from others, rather than considering whether those answering questions were induced.

People have a herd mentality, thus this "opposition sect" might gradually lean towards the mainstream, eventually becoming the "majority."

People fear loneliness, they dread solitude!

After finishing all the questions, Lynch received a beautiful pen and a fried chicken voucher.

"Do you need me to contact that girl for you?" Austin joked as they returned to the company building.

Lynch was a bit surprised, "Why do you think that?"

"You kept staring at her chest earlier, maybe you suddenly take interest in this..." Austin gestured to a place she didn’t have, "type of woman."

She gestured at an impressive size.

"Not interested."

Lynch shook his head.

He simply thought the girl’s skin was nice, he didn’t care about what’s big or what’s white.

Standing in the elevator, Lynch asked Austin a question, "If war breaks out, would you want to go back?"

Most people, especially retired veterans, are obsessed with war, it’s hard to explain why.

Perhaps it’s the confusion of not being able to use their skills.

Upon hearing this question, Austin had a brief surprise, then sank into confusion.

After a while, she shook her head.

"I don’t know."

"I used to really like war, but now I’ve gotten used to life as it is, and I don’t know whether I should go back or not."

"There’s a lot I haven’t experienced, Lynch."

They have a good relationship, she provides close protection, even following Lynch to the restroom if necessary.

So she doesn’t call him ’Mr. Lynch’, instead addressing him by his first name.

After a brief silence, Austin said, "I’ve never actually been in love, never done it, never had children, never married..."

She listed a bunch of things she’s never done, showing her confusion.

With a ding, the elevator door opened, Lynch walked out, "You got scared..."